Means for the extinction of fire in tanks for combustible liquids



Jun 10, 9 A. E. WICKLANDER 2,599,796

MEANS FOR THE EXTINCTION OF FIRE IN TANKS FOR COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS 2SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March 11, 1950 INVENTOR ATTORNEY J 1952 A. E.WICKLANDER MEANS FOR THE EXTINCTION OF FIRE IN TANKS FOR COMBUSTIBLELIQUIDS 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed March 11, 1950 INVENTOR mamas f/ /A/l flflMmwvm ATTORNEY Patented June 10, 1952 MEANS FOR THE EXTINCTION OF FIREIN TANKS FOR COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS Anders Emanuel Wicklander, Nynashamn,Sweden Application March 11, 1950, Serial No. 149,187 In Sweden October31, 194.9

9 Claims.

The present invention refers to the extinction of fire in tanks,containers or other storage rooms for combustible liquids, particularlytanks for inflammable oils, such as gasolene and crude oils.

The principle of fire extinction in tanks according to known methodsaims at the provision of an insulating blanket of a fire extinguishingagent, generally foam, between the liquid and the air, thus starving thefire by stopping or retarding the evaporation. In a known method,.

the foam is supplied through the roof of the tank or through the upperportion of the wall of the tank by means of one or more inwardlyprojecting pipes, which are open toward the interior of the tank, andfrom these pipes the foam is introduced above the surface of the liquidin order then to fiow out to cover the whole of the liquid surface,after sufficient quantities of foam have been applied, the result beingthen the starving 'of the fire. This method of supplying the foam israther uneconomical, however, inasmuch as one must take intoconsideration that large portions of the foam will be broken down, whenthe foam passes directly through the flame-zone, which may have atemperature of up tol000 0., or that the foam is carried off by thewind. For this reason another method (the subsurface method) has beenevolved, according to which foam is pumped in through the ordinarysupply lines for the oil directly into the oil, in which the foam hasbeen permitted to rise to the surface. This method also suffers from aconsiderable drawback, inasmuch as the foam on its way in the oilup tothe surface is broken down to a-considerable extent, which isparticularly the case with oils of a low viscosity, such as gasolene.

The primary object of the invention is to facilitate the supply of fireextinguishing agents to tanks or other storage rooms for combustibleliquids in a manner more satisfactory than ac cording to the knownmethods. The invention is based on the observation that, when a fireoccurs in tanks containing an inflammable oil next to the liquid surfaceunderneath the flame-zone, there is a layer consisting of evaporatedoil, which maintains the fire when fiowing in a constant current fromthe colder surface of the liquid. In this gas-zone the temperature isconsiderably lower than in the flame-zone thereabove. One object of theinvention is to utilize this gas-zone for the supply of a fireextinguishing agent in a manner such that the supplying apparatus willnot be made ineffective bythe re. I

2. l The invention comprises a method of fire-extinction as well as asuitable contrivance for such extinction. f The method is primarilydistinguished by the feature that a fire extinguishing agent, such asfoam or an inert gas, is introduced into the storage room (the tank)at-a point underneath the liquid surface therein: through thecombustible liquid, said agent being prevented on its way through theliquid from coming into contact with the latter, until it has reachedthesurface of the liquid or has been brought into-the proximity of thesame. The fire extinguishing agent may thus be introduced at a point ofthe Wall of the tank located at a low level, if desired through thebottom of the tank, but for the conveyance up to the surface acontrivance is made use of, which prevents the fire extinguishing-agentfrom coming into contact with the liquid and .from being destroyed bythe latter. For the conveyance on or more closed envelopesmaybeemployed, into which the fire extinguishing agent is-introduced,and the envelope is made from a material resistant to the contents ofthe tank, which material might be destroyed, however, through aninfiuence from the heat of the fire on that portion. of

the envelope which, during-the fire, is above the liquid surface in thetank, so that the envelope is opened bythe fact that said portion isburnt off or fused, or is destroyed in some other way, so that the fireextinguishing agent is permitted to reach the surface of the liquid. Theenvelope may be constructed in various ways, and measures other thandestroying a portion of the envelope may be resorted to forthe openingofthe same.

An apparatus devised in accordanc with the invention is primarilydistinguished by thefeature that it is provided with .a conveying meansadapted to bring fire extinguishing means from a point on the wall ofthe storage room, which is located underneath the level of the liquid inthis room, up to the surface of the liquid, in a manner such as toprevent the fire extinguishing means from coming into contact with thecombustible liquid, until it has reached the level of the liquid, or hasbeen brought to the proximity of the same.

The invention will be explained more closely in the following. withreference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a few examplesof embodiment. Fig. 1 is a vertical section of an oil tank under fire,this figure also showing .zones caused by the fire. Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5are vertical tion and arranged on a tank. Fig. 6 shows a de= tail.

In Fig. 1, I designates a tank or other storage chamber or room for acombustible liquid, such as a gas oil. The upper surface of the liquidis locatedat l 2. Under fire there is a zone l4 next to the surf'ace oftheeliquid, 'saidizone consistin of vapour; which in a constantcurrent-from the colder surface of the liquid maintains the fire. Here,the temperature is considerably lower than.

in the flame-zone I6 thereabove; the smokeezoner l8 developing abovesaid flameezone; lnlthe fi i zone M, where the temperature iscomparatively low, as stated, a. suitable fire extinguishing means, suchas water or foam, is introduced an cording to the invention,saidsmeanszbeinggpere 1 mitted to extend over the surface oftheliquidrsor:

as to cut off the latter from the air evaporation. and insulate thesurface thus starving the fire (stopping thesupply of gas) v I'fthelevel of theliquid inthetank were constant and known; the fireextinguishing means could be supplied from the side-through'a duction ofan envelope 26 intended to convey an extingutfihinggagent or means froma pipe conduit ram-m thewmzface of the liquid. The envelope may taketheform of a flexible hose or tube. whichjrra-position of preparedness islying folded in a pocket 39 between the pipe conduit and the dneningahz..Thesouter end of the hose is secured wi'tltnaitight fit to the inletsocket of the pocket,

.smthat. leakage of liquid from the tank is prevented. Provided betweenthe pocket and the opening is acut-off vaive 3| attached to a socket32"surroundingtheopening: V

The valve-34 is; normallyolosedi-wliereby liquid is prevented fromescaping fromthe tank through device loeatedimmediately above thesurfaceof m the-liquid. Inpractice; the level of the liquid generally" varies'to 'agreat extent according to the degreeof filling of the-tank. Inorder that th'e fire extinguishing meansshall permit of beingintroducedat theproper level; without becominguestroyed by the heat from theflame-zone Orrbytheiiquid inthe: tank, it= is introduced,according-tattleinvention, at' a; point beneath the is'urfaeeioffethe"liquidrand' is caused to-pass I through :the. liquid; itbeingpreventedfromcom,- V

' intoscontact'with the latter before havlngfreachedthe'surface of; theliquid. The point of: introduction is selected at a; comparatively low.level; preferably attire-side of; the tank whiciialsq-involvestheadvantagethatthemeans ofiintroduction become readilyaccessible;

Tq-conveyithe extinguishing-meansfrom the pointof'irrtroductionto'thegas zone above the f surface of-the liquid, a conveying means may be mmes: which-within the; scope-of the invenj tlbnmaybefbrmedinmanydifierent ways; a few of whiohiarecshowniby Way; of example in theInprincipl'e, this: contrivance-is cOnstltutedhya shell or-a1renvelope,into: which the extinguishing-meansis introduced at the bottom tubecorweyed toand deliveredonto -a pointiabove besidie'the'surfaceoftheliquid; Fig, 2 shows a" tank i0; which is filled with acombustibleliquid to the'level l2, the envelope; in considerationtaki'ngtheiorm of a pipe or tube 20,,which' is permanentlysecured-within the tankin a position suited. for the supply ofextinguishing means. A H nozzletor socket 22 the extinguishing meansextends through the, wall of the tank tov adjoin the pipe 20. Thepipex2'fl' extends a vertical direction beside the'wall of the t'ank,,towhich it maybe. secured. It. is closed as the upper and the lower ends,but consists of a material, which is readiiydestroyed at a certainincrease of the temperature, whereby the pipe is opened. At a.fl'regthis destruction may thus consist in that the whole oi'the portion23 of? the pine projecting above the surface. l2 of the. liquidis burntoff; so

that" extinguishing means supplied through the socket '22" can be pumpedwithout impediment. lira constant current up. to the surface of theIiguidto'b'ef spread over the latter. This device may lie-used for:arbitrary extinguishing; means, consequently not only for such having aspecific gravitypsmallen than that of the liquid in the tank, suchas'foamsand gas, but also for water the opening -2 4 Ata.-fire;;thevalve 3 l is opened,

the-hose thenpreventing any discharge-ofliquid. Fire-extinguishing agentis now supplied under pressure through the-conduit28 so as to fill thehose 26; whichis pressed into thetankwhere it unfolds. The hose is of:a'l'engthsuchthatit may'reach with its innerendifor'a distance abovethesurfa-ceof theliquid; In; Fig.3, the hose ismarked -in-this positionby dash lines 26. Various measures of expediencwmay be taken to bringthe;hoseinto this position. Thesimplest way is" tomakeuse of afireextinguishing-agent,

the specifie'weight off which is semuch below that of the combustibleliquid that. thehose is caused to rise to the surface. Particularlysuitable as;;a fire extinguishingagentis, therefore; mechanically orchemically-produced foam or some inert gas. Another way isto arrange aguiding rneans within thetank; suchas:;a rigid; preferablyperforatedpipe 33; through whichthehose-is directed upwardly-during itsprojection. Thehose nrustjae closed against the contentsoj; tanlr whilefloating upror rising to the suriace, in; order then to be opened, :sothat;the-extinguishing agentmay find itsway-o-utto be spreadgoverthesurface of the liquid. Arr-entirely automatic opening of the hose may beachieved" in apartieularlv simple manner by thehose being made from amaterial, which is destroyed, for instance lay-being ignited, and whichthen burns or melts under; the influence ofthe heat of radiation fromthe flame- The hose may. consist, v for instanc of synthetic rubber,which looses its strength; at a temperature, as low. as 70, for exampleand'which is thus destroyed at the temperature prevailing inthegas zonetld in Fig; 1). Plastic of a low meltingpointis also serviceable. Whenthe hose projects for some distance abovethe liquid' sura this 'prjeetine-pnrtipn. wilithereimte be opened,;so that the extinguishingagentmay find its wayout.

The envelopecneed' not take the iorm of a hose, but mayhaveany suitableiiorm providedit is capable of conveying the I extinguishing agentthrough the combustible liquid upto the surface of the l W thout-the extneuishinsagentand he liq dbein .b us tzinto mutual contact e tnoth r.formiis ndieatedby-chaim dotted lines Ml inFig; 3. 1 7 Irrespective of.whether the form of a hose. or not, it may be opened through theinfluence of the pressure from the extinguishntelone takes. th

ing agent therein, the envelope then consisting of a moretemperature-resistive, perhaps a refractory material, such as asbestos.'I'o render this possible, the'inner end of the envelope may be providedwith breakage or weakening lines, for instance in the form of acircumferentially extending weakening line 34, as shown in Fig. 6, theend portion 36 thus bursting oif, when the pressure has reached asufficiently high value in the envelope. a valve may be provided, whichis adapted to open through the pressure in the shell. This facility iselucidated in Fig. 5, which shows the hose 26 in a projected positionwith its upper end above the liquid surface 12. the upper end is a valvemember 36, which is kept in its closed position by a locking spring 38;the resiliency of this spring may be outweighed by the pressure in thehose, so that the valve can be opened through the influence of thispressure. If required, a float may be arranged in'a suitable position onthe hose, said float aidingtoward bringing the end of the hose up to thesurface of the liquid.

A special advantage of the closed pipe or hose employed according to theinvention is that it forms itself a sealing means and incontradistinction to devices for introduction of foam through the tankroof improves the sealing possibilities and reduces the breathinglosses.

As a conveying means for the extinguishing agent, particularly where thelatter consists of foam or gas, balloons may be used in placed a pipe ora hose, said balloons being filled with an extinguishing agent andintroduced into the tank in large quantities. An arrangement for thispurposeisindicated diagrammatically in Fig. 4. A nozzle is secured tothe socket 34 in the a film in contact with the contents of the tank isintroduced through said pipe 50. This filmforming agent is pressed outinto the annular opening 52 between the nozzles, and the film is'dilated by the extinguishing agent introduced through the'nozzle 48. Inthe example shown, the extinguishing agent is conceived of asconsistingof foam created in a foam injector 54 provided with an injector nozzle56, a water inlet 58, and an inlet 80 for a foam-forming agent. The filmis closed by means of a device arranged in front of the nozzles 46, 48,so that the. film is caused to form balloons 62, which in rapidsuccession rise to the liquid surface l2, where they are opened by thedestruction of the film through the influence of the heat of the fire.For the production of the balloons any suitable apparatus may be used,which is capable 0.1 producing balloons in rapid succession, theordinary means for the supply of gas as used in previously known balloonproducing machines being used here for the supply of foam.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for extinguishing fire in tanks or other storagechambers containing an inflammable liquid comprising an inlet openingfor introducing a fire extinguishing medium below the surface of saidliquid, an envelope for said fire extinguishing medium adapted to beprojected from said inlet opening to a point above the liquid surface,said envelope being made of material at least a portion of which isfusible but impervious In place of such breakage lines,

Arranged on 6 to said liquid, and means for projecting said envelope andsaid fire extinguishing medium from said inlet opening. I

2. An apparatus for extinguishing fire in tanks or other storagechambers containing an inflammable liquid comprising an inlet openingfor introducing a fire extinguishing medium below the surface of saidliquid, an envelope for said fire extinguishing medium adapted to beprojected from said inlet opening to a point above the liquid surface,said envelope being made of material at least a portion of which isfusible but impervious to said liquid, a pocket connected to said inletopening for normally housing said envelope, and means for projectingsaid envelope and said fire extinguishing medium from said pocket.

3. An apparatus for extinguishing fire in tanks or other storagechambers containing an inflammable liquid comprising an inlet openingfor introducing a fire extinguishing medium below the surface of saidliquid, a collapsible envelope for said fire extinguishing mediumadapted to be projected from said inlet opening to a point above theliquid surface, said collapsible envelope being made of material atleast a portion of which is fusible but impervious to said liquid, apocket connected to said inlet opening for housing said envelope incollapsed condition and means for projecting said fire extinguishingmedium and said envelope from said pocket.

4. Apparatus for extinction of fire in tanks or other storage chambersfor combustible liquids comprising a flexible tube being closed save foran inlet and made from a material resistant to the combustible liquidbut destructible by the influence of the fire, said tube having an inletbelow the liquid level in the chamber, means to keep said tube in afolded state of readiness, means to develop the tube through the liquidup to and above the surface thereof, where it is closed, and means tosupply extinction means to said tube.

5. Apparatus for extinction of fire in tanks or other storage chambersfor combustible liquids, comprising a flexible envelope being closedsave for an inlet located below the liquid level in said chamber, meansto supply extinction, means to the envelope through said inlet, saidextinction means having a specific gravity lower than that of the liquidin the chamber and thereby causing a portion of the envelope to rise tothe surface of the liquid, the envelope being made of a materialresistant to the liquid but destructible by the fire, whereby theenvelope is automatically opened above the surface of the liquid due tothe fire itself.

6. Apparatus for extinction of fire in tanks for combustible liquidscomprising a pocket at the wall of the tank below the liquid leveltherein, said pocket having an inlet'and an outlet. a flexible tubefolded together in said pocket, said tube having an open end at theinlet and a closed end at the outlet, and means to supply extinctionmeans into the tube to develop the tube in the liquid of the tankcausing the closed end to rise above the liquid surface.

7. Apparatus for extinction of fire in tanks for combustible liquidscomprising a pocket at the wall of the tank below the liquid leveltherein, said pocket having an inlet and an outlet, a flexible tubefolded together in said pocket, said tube having an open end at theinlet and a closed end at the outlet, and a foam jet pipe for supplyingfoam under pressure into the tube to develop the tube into the liquidcausing the closed end :o': the-tube to .rise t9 t e suriace iof' he-.1i m

to the bueyeiieyef thefeam- 8. Apparatus for extinction ofiire i mks.for

having. an open'endat the inlet and a, closed, end at the-outlet,.mean sto supply extinction means into the tube to develop the tube in theliquid,

and means uidin the tu or ausi th tinction means but being .elosed savefor this inlet, said. inlet being located below thelevel of the liquidin-the storage chamber, a pocket for said.

4 .emnelepeet he well pi thete k o .c emher, sai

pocke beineitself open te a 'd he innerxef h chamber but being closedbythe envelope.

ANDERS EMANUEL WICKLANDER- mummi s CI ED The iellowine re c areotrecorsl 11 th fil o t is pa e U D TATE A T Number Y N ame Date1,776,206 Verner Sept. 16,:1930 1,843,882 Norling Feb. 2, 1932"1,876,425 King Sept. .6, 1932 FOREI PAT NTS .1n,1 -v C unt Dat 700,499Fra Dee-23.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE IN TANKS OR OTHER STORAGECHAMBERS CONTAINING AN INFLAMMABLE LIQUID COMPRISNG AN INLET OPENING FORINTRODUCING A FIRE EXTINGUISHING MEDIUM BELOW THE SURFACE OF SAIDLIQUID, AN ENVELOPE FOR SAID FIRE EXTINGUISHING MEDIUM ADAPTED TO BEPROJECTED FROM SAID INLET OPENING TO A POINT ABOVE THE LIQUID SURFACE,SAID ENVELOPE BEING MADE OF MATERIAL AT LEAST A PORTION OF WHICH ISFUSIBLE BUT IMPERVIOUS TO SAID LIQUID, AND MEANS FOR PROJECTING SAIDENVELOPE AND SAID FIRE EXTINGUISHING MEDIUM FROM SAID INLET OPENING.